Open Letter: A Russian Warning

We, the undersigned, are Russians living and working in the USA. We have been watching with increasing anxiety as the current US and NATO policies have set us on an extremely dangerous collision course with the Russian Federation, as well as with China. Many respected, patriotic Americans, such as Paul Craig Roberts, Stephen Cohen, Philip Giraldi, Ray McGovern and many others have been issuing warnings of a looming a Third World War. But their voices have been all but lost among the din of a mass media that is full of deceptive and inaccurate stories that characterize the Russian economy as being in shambles and the Russian military as weak—all based on no evidence. But we—knowing both Russian history and the current state of Russian society and the Russian military, cannot swallow these lies. We now feel that it is our duty, as Russians living in the US, to warn the American people that they are being lied to, and to tell them the truth. And the truth is simply this:

If there is going to be a war with Russia, then the United States will most certainly be destroyed, and most of us will end up dead.

Let us take a step back and put what is happening in a historical context. Russia has suffered a great deal at the hands of foreign invaders, losing 22 million people in World War II. Most of the dead were civilians, because the country was invaded, and the Russians have vowed to never let such a disaster happen again. Each time Russia had been invaded, she emerged victorious. In 1812 Nepoleon invaded Russia; in 1814 Russian cavalry rode into Paris. On June 22, 1941, Hitler’s Luftwaffe bombed Kiev; On May 8, 1945, Soviet troops rolled into Berlin.
But times have changed since then. If Hitler were to attack Russia today, he would be dead 20 to 30 minutes later, his bunker reduced to glowing rubble by a strike from a Kalibr supersonic cruise missile launched from a small Russian navy ship somewhere in the Baltic Sea. The operational abilities of the new Russian military have been most persuasively demonstrated during the recent action against ISIS, Al Nusra and other foreign-funded terrorist groups operating in Syria. A long time ago Russia had to respond to provocations by fighting land battles on her own territory, then launching a counter-invasion; but this is no longer necessary. Russia’s new weapons make retaliation instant, undetectable, unstoppable and perfectly lethal.
Thus, if tomorrow a war were to break out between the US and Russia, it is guaranteed that the US would be obliterated. At a minimum, there would no longer be an electric grid, no internet, no oil and gas pipelines, no interstate highway system, no air transportation or GPS-based navigation. Financial centers would lie in ruins. Government at every level would cease to function. US armed forces, stationed all around the globe, would no longer be resupplied. At a maximum, the entire landmass of the US would be covered by a layer of radioactive ash. We tell you this not to be alarmist, but because, based on everything we know, we are ourselves alarmed. If attacked, Russia will not back down; she will retaliate, and she will utterly annihilate the United States.
The US leadership has done everything it could to push the situation to the brink of disaster. First, its anti-Russian policies have convinced the Russian leadership that making concessions or negotiating with the West is futile. It has become apparent that the West will always support any individual, movement or government that is anti-Russian, be it tax-cheating Russian oligarchs, convicted Ukrainian war criminals, Saudi-supported Wahhabi terrorists in Chechnya or cathedral-desecrating punks in Moscow. Now that NATO, in violation of its previous promises, has expanded right up to the Russian border, with US forces deployed in the Baltic states, within artillery range of St. Petersburg, Russia’s second-largest city, the Russians have nowhere left to retreat. They will not attack; nor will they back down or surrender. The Russian leadership enjoys over 80% of popular support; the remaining 20% seems to feel that it is being too soft in opposing Western encroachment. But Russia will retaliate, and a provocation or a simple mistake could trigger a sequence of events that will end with millions of Americans dead and the US in ruins.
Unlike many Americans, who see war as an exciting, victorious foreign adventure, the Russians hate and fear war. But they are also ready for it, and they have been preparing for war for several years now. Their preparations have been most effective. Unlike the US, which squanders untold billions on dubious overpriced arms programs such as the F-35 joint task fighter, the Russians are extremely stingy with their defense rubles, getting as much as 10 times the bang for the buck compared to the bloated US defense industry. While it is true that the Russian economy has suffered from low energy prices, it is far from being in shambles, and a return to growth is expected as early as next year. Senator John McCain once called Russia “A gas station masquerading as a country.” Well, he lied. Yes, Russia is the world’s largest oil producer and second-largest oil exporter, but it is also world’s largest exporter of grain and nuclear power technology. It is as advanced and sophisticated a society as the United States. Russia’s armed forces, both conventional and nuclear, are now ready to fight, and they are more than a match for the US and NATO, especially if a war erupts anywhere near the Russian border.
But such a fight would be suicidal for all sides. We strongly believe that a conventional war in Europe runs a strong chance of turning nuclear very rapidly, and that any US/NATO nuclear strike on Russian forces or territory will automatically trigger a retaliatory Russian nuclear strike on the continental US. Contrary to irresponsible statements made by some American propagandists, American antiballistic missile systems are incapable of shielding the American people from a Russian nuclear strike. Russia has the means to strike at targets in the USA with long-range nuclear as well as conventional weapons.
The sole reason why the USA and Russia have found themselves on a collision course, instead of defusing tensions and cooperating on a wide range of international problems, is the stubborn refusal by the US leadership to accept Russia as an equal partner: Washington is dead set on being the “world leader” and the “indispensable nation,” even as its influence steadily dwindles in the wake of a string of foreign policy and military disasters such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Yemen and the Ukraine. Continued American global leadership is something that neither Russia, nor China, nor most of the other countries are willing to accept. This gradual but apparent loss of power and influence has caused the US leadership to become hysterical; and it is but a small step from hysterical to suicidal. America’s political leaders need to be placed under suicide watch.
First and foremost, we are appealing to the commanders of the US Armed Forces to follow the example of Admiral William Fallon, who, when asked about a war with Iran, reportedly replied “not on my watch.” We know that you are not suicidal, and that you do not wish to die for the sake of out-of-touch imperial hubris. If possible, please tell your staff, colleagues and, especially, your civilian superiors that a war with Russia will not happen on your watch. At the very least, take that pledge yourselves, and, should the day ever come when the suicidal order is issued, refuse to execute it on the grounds that it is criminal. Remember that according to the Nuremberg Tribunal “To initiate a war of aggression… is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.” Since Nuremberg, “I was just following orders” is no longer a valid defense; please don’t be war criminals.
We also appeal to the American people to take peaceful but forceful action to oppose any politician or party that engages in irresponsible, provocative Russia-baiting, and that condones and supports a policy of needless confrontation with a nuclear superpower that is capable of destroying America in about an hour. Speak up, break through the barrier of mass media propaganda, and make your fellow Americans aware of the immense danger of a confrontation between Russia and the US.
There is no objective reason why US and Russia should consider each other adversaries. The current confrontation is entirely the result of the extremist views of the neoconservative cult, whose members were allowed to infiltrate the US Federal government under President Bill Clinton, and who consider any country that refuses to obey their dictates as an enemy to be crushed. Thanks to their tireless efforts, over a million innocent people have already died in the former Yugoslavia, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Pakistan, the Ukraine, Yemen, Somalia and in many other countries—all because of their maniacal insistence that the USA must be a world empire, not a just a regular, normal country, and that every national leader must either bow down before them, or be overthrown. In Russia, this irresistible force has finally encountered an immovable object. They must be forced to back down before they destroy us all.
We are absolutely and categorically certain that Russia will never attack the US, nor any EU member state, that Russia is not at all interested in recreating the USSR, and that there is no “Russian threat” or “Russian aggression.” Much of Russia’s recent economic success has a lot to do with the shedding of former Soviet dependencies, allowing her to pursue a “Russia first” policy. But we are just as certain that if Russia is attacked, or even threatened with attack, she will not back down, and that the Russian leadership will not “blink.” With great sadness and a heavy heart they will do their sworn duty and unleash a nuclear barrage from which the United States will never recover. Even if the entire Russian leadership is killed in a first strike, the so-called “Dead Hand” (the “Perimetr” system) will automatically launch enough nukes to wipe the USA off the political map. We feel that it is our duty to do all we can to prevent such a catastrophe.Evgenia Gurevich, Ph.D.
Victor Katsap, PhD, Sr. Scientist
NuFlare Technology America, Inc.
Andrei Kozhev
Serge LubomudrovDmitry OrlovThe Saker (A. Raevsky)

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Watchfuleye

As far as I can tell almost everyone here greatly underestimate the American military. The best case scenario for Russia would be mutual destruction . nuclear war is not winnable

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Apr 25, 2017 3:05 AM

MartyrMade

Most Americans want absolutely nothing to do with a conflict with Russia. Most working class and conservative middle class people like Putin. This is being entirely driven by a small cadre who have captured our foreign policy institutions. So, yeah, please don’t nuke us, and we’ll make sure these assholes don’t nuke you. PS – Trump may be a ridiculous character, but he understands this.

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Jun 8, 2016 8:09 AM

Zoharariel Underscore Obatala

The content of this open letter is very deep especially the last part that says:
“Even if the entire Russian leadership is killed in a first strike, the so-called “Dead Hand” (the “Perimetr” system) will automatically launch enough nukes to wipe the USA off the political map.”
Amerika is the most useless country in the world. She has always used the red herring of “Islamic extremism” and terrorism, to justify any actions she deems necessary for the advancement of her evil agenda.
In Afghanistan and Yemen, the enemy is “Al-Qaeda” which must be fought with Amerika’s military might, while in Libya and Syria, the same “Al-Qaeda” is an ally fighting against the oppressive regimes of Gaddafi and Assad.
I have always asked my people what Africom is doing in Africa, but my brainwashed people tagged me a conspiracy theorist. I was even said to have escaped from a sanatorium, just because I told them that we must embrace Russia and that, until Nigeria severes ties with Amerika & Britain, we will keep moving in wider circles & remain under-developed forever.
Africom runs all the operations of Al-shabaab, Boko-Haram & all other terrorist franchises from their secret military base in Chad.
Now, Is Amerika prepared to allow Russia or China establish their own “Amerikan Command” and call it “Americom” in pursuit of their national interests in Amerika?
An African adage says “wood already touched by fire is not difficult to set alight”

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Jun 5, 2016 2:25 PM

Lupulco

@ Norman Pilon
Yes, it does look as if a hot war is in the offing.
‘And all because of both Russia’s and China’s pervasive and relentless global aggression. It has to be stopped.’
Are you really serious? or are taking the wee wee.
Most countries have endured collateral damage on the home territory, and the population, via parents and grand parents have ben in direct contract with people who have seen the results.
The US as never had a major incident on its home land, Yes we all know about Pearl harbour. One attack. Not the night after night bombing on European cities and towns.
If things get out of hand again, you will not be out of range of retaliatory strikes. Russia is not Libya, Afghanistan, nor Iraq. who had to just accept the damage caused by the US/NATO.

Hi Lupulco,
“Are you really serious? or are taking the wee wee.”
I think you need to re-read what I wrote, and place the part of my comment you became fixated on within the context of my “entire” comment. If you do, you should come to the realization that I in fact “disclaim” the “wee wee” part, which I clearly take to be both “reactionary and deluded.” So like you, I’m in complete disagreement with that part of my comment, since I therein characterized what I take to be a viewpoint entirely conditioned by propaganda.
–N

There will not be a war unless by accident in which case the West is f**kkd so it won’t happen. The “Homeland” reduced to ashes serves nobody & even an utter imbecile like Obama knows that.
Sadly a lot of Russians living outside Russia are nothing more than gullible opportunists trying to find an easy way to prosperity & live the myth of the ‘American Dream’ with meagre talents & knicked leg up but certainly not all to be fair. I’ve met way too many & euthenasia is too kind for them – At least the Irish when they emigrate open a Pub !
Russia is full of educated talent & very particularly talent in the field of military tech – when the Americans invent something to surpass the 1970’s Shkval, 1980’s SS Sunburn or recent Khibiny then lets sleep well & talk about this matter again but until that day NATO has lots of big knives from bankrupt countries with not a lot of time on theor hands at a Russian gunfight & won’t dare attack – TODAY its all about stealing taxpayer money via the ridiculously inflated prices of the Military Industrial Complex. Its called “The Clinton Doctrine”.

Hi Leruscino,
You make a good point. Is the ‘alarm’ being raised by the “open letter” at hand genuine or ‘sensationalism’ trying to turn a dollar? I don’t know, and if you read this post over at “The Saker” website, titled “How Russia is preparing for WWIII,” it makes you wonder: from the standpoint of the Russian military, is there or is there not a “military threat” emanating from the West? If not, as “The Saker” himself seems to be arguing in that particular post, then why the alarmist tone of the “Open Letter?”
Your point is well taken . . .
–N

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Jun 5, 2016 7:26 PM

Alan Light

The War Between the States was quite devastating. The southern states took more than a century to recover from it.
Unfortunately, those who remember the devastation are now gone.

I sure hope calm heads prevail and this American aggression against Russia, China, Syria, Iran…the list is quite long as you know….I hope calmer heads prevail on all sides. America needs to stop provoking so many countries, starting so many wars all over the world. A just world is multi-polar. I definitely don’t want a world with the USA as the lone super-power, parish the thought! Unfortunately, I think that very bad people have gotten into the top positions in the US military and government, the kind of people who don’t want dialogue or co-existence but rather the types who want to use deceit, deception and military force to attack any country which is not an obedient vassal state. Someone’s gotta take those idiots out.

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Jun 4, 2016 6:19 PM

Richard Le Sarcophage

Aggression, subversion, torture, genocide and sabotage have been the preferred tools of the US Empire since 1789, or, if you prefer, since 1620 and the beginning of the invasion and genocide of the indigenous. The USA cannot change its ways and means, no more than a rabid dog can refrain from biting all and sundry.

As I wrote to a friend who alerted me to this ‘open letter:’
Yes, it does look as if a hot war is in the offing.
‘And all because of both Russia’s and China’s pervasive and relentless global aggression. It has to be stopped.’
And in the aftermath, if there is anything remotely resembling what now goes by the name of a society, the need for the murder and the bombs will be characterized as having been self-evident defense against an insuperable existential threat. Those dang Russians and Chinese and Turks and North Koreans and Arabs and Indians and . . . and . . .
How many people have already bought into this line and will as a result line up behind the madmen?
It is insane.
And it all comes to us from our pre-history — a condition in which we still unfortunately find ourselves –from the unconscious evolution of culture and the ideologies that this “thing” spontaneously spawns like so many genetic mutations, some of which manifest as cancers and cankers.
It’s really weird. And stranger still is that here and there human brains have actually awakened to this condition, which is in itself both amazing and presaging of what mankind might have achieved.
Unfortunately, that awakening may now have come too late to become widespread, itself arising into a condition of ‘common sense,’ which had been for many the hope that the humanistic ideal represented.
We do live in precarious times. There is not the least exaggeration in that statement. It may very well be that we are now on the cusp of seeing the future of man foreclosed once and for all by the irrationality of contingency, of the chaos in things over the order of things.
Regards to all,
–N

Yes, having had friends serve for the British army and Navy – I can say that their feelings on American military training was embarrassing and clumsy they take 30 men to do what 2 should be able to do, they’re obsessed with technology which almost always fails and they usually kill more friendly troops than foe, incidentally they also turn allies into enemies though piss poor planning.

Hi Shatnersrug (love the call sign, BTW),
To the “Open Letter,” Chantal, my wife, reacted in this manner (I’m paraphrasing):
“Look, the military establishments on both sides of this apparent showdown know what the ultimate outcome will be if they push things to far, and it won’t be good for any of them. The hysteria is therefore manufactured: capitalists on one side colluding with capitalists on the other, blackmailing hostage populations, to fleece them of their tax dollars.”
She’s not loosing any sleep over it. Always in bed by 21h00, snoring by 21h05 . . . well, maybe not always . . .

🙂 – I think we can all agree this is the “hopeful” scenario (if it merits such a word), and there’s likely some truth in it. What makes the current situation different from the usual East-West standoffs during the Cold war is the fact there are now lunatics on one side who appear to believe they can fight a war – even a nuclear war – and emerge unscathed. It’s symptomatic of the deeply deranged thinking at the core of the Washington neocons. Probably only a few of the very craziest truly believe this, but it’s a philosophy that is informing both military strategy and a huge amount of the commentary and policy-discussion in the media and intelligentsia.
And of course the “missile defense shield”, or whatever they call it, is profoundly not defensive. In fact it only makes sense as a pre-emptive strike weapon, to knock out Russia’s ability to retaliate preparatory to a ground invasion. It probably doesn’t work currently, because NATO hardware never does, and it’s probably as much of a dud concept as the “star wars” program was. That’s not the real problem though. It’s not the hardware, it’s the insane intent behind it which could get us all embroiled in WW3.
All a long way of saying – we can’t be too sanguine or just assume this is nothing but the usual sabre-rattling

My viewpoint coincides with yours, Catte, as you can infer from my original comment, and indeed there are idiots aplenty in the higher ranks of the military who have bought into their own propaganda. Yes, that in itself is the disturbing element in this whole story, and some of these “nice” people, otherwise insane, can give ‘orders.’
And anyway, nuclear Armageddon aside, that anyone anywhere is being bombed, strafed, or shot is utterly beyond the pale. Being distraught over the issue of war is not something that can properly be qualified as ‘hysterical.’
Great work, by the way, Catte, and I really enjoy the posts that you write.
Kind regards,
–N

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Jun 6, 2016 7:37 PM

Richard Le Sarcophage

After forty years of complete Rightwing dominance in the West, ie by psychopaths, and the total treachery of the ‘social democrats’ like Blair, Hollande, Tsipras and Clinton, you have a situation where, in the corridors of power in politics, the MSM and Big Business (particularly finance)you have no-body in charge but psychotics, of varying degrees of moral insanity. Moreover, the total dominance of this psychopathic elite has led to their ‘Values’, ie those of the psychopath (unlimited egomania, insatiable greed, love of violence, unscrupulous untrustworthiness and the absence of human empathy and compassion etc) being projected onto Western societies through the brainwashing apparatus of the entirely Rightwing MSM, ‘entertainment’ (like Hollywood where Moslems, Arabs and Palestinians are ALWAYS monsters) advertising, PR etc. We have ended up with a ‘society’ where every decent person is driven out of public life, the range of acceptable opinion is the narrowest imaginable, where lying, false presentation and hate-mongering are ubiquitous, and where utterly deranged aggression is seen as ‘Western Moral Values’. What’s more these psychotic ruling elites ‘devolve’ over time into ever more vicious manifestations.